「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(321) Kavita Rao

Charles' POV

Fatigue had Lynn incredibly clingy, dramatising my departure unnecessarily. The combined exhaustions from the night prior ironically fuelled her erratic behaviour—from unusually irritable and short-tempered to inherently gracious and selfless in just the flick of a moment.

It pricked me, even just kissing her hand goodbye, but the riveting trip was imminent and it would have been perfect if Hank had managed to obtain her an invitation. Unfortunately, the urgent circumstances warranted negotiations impossible and even his bodyguard was not granted admission to the cordially arranged luncheon.

After an elaborate meal hosted in one of the finest restaurants San Francisco boasted, the delegates representing Worthington Laboratories kindly chauffeured Hank and I to their office building located nearby the picturesque seaside.

Security was ridiculously stringent here, even more absurd than Hank's chaperon having to miss our delightful dining opportunity, but it seemed duly compelled given the highly chaotic situation.

It had literally just been released but the street before the tower was already completely packed.

Crazily long lines snaked around every possible corner as mutants seeking the easy way towards assimilation waited patiently to be administered with this remarkable chemical. Hostile crowds of others passionately advocating just the opposite notion congregated in a heated protest, restrained only by a large rigid pool of task force officers.

Uniformed personnel were in excessive numbers, dispersed not so dispersedly around the premises. Not only were they activated to maintain order amongst the perpetually lengthening queues and the likes of a roughly impending riot, their duties required them to cope with the vivacious influx of press members eager to share this unprecedented sight with the world.

"History will be made here today. For the first time, the so-called mutant cure will be available to the public. Reaction has run the gamut with mutants on both sides of the line. Some are desperate for this cure while others are offended by the very idea of it," narrated a female reporter on site, pretty astutely, as our limousine conspicuously weaved into the parking lot.

The flashy vehicle undoubtedly turned the heads of many, most of whom looked on grudgingly, but our loquacious escort was steady to reassure that the car had been well equipped with the best technologies to withstand a variety of physical assaults.

While the exaggerated measures were not too comforting in themselves, and Hank had serious issues taming his raised brows, our attention was shortly diverted to an introduction of the structure's architectural details as we ascended fifty-one storeys from the basement garage to the Director's chambers.

A brief handshake, however, was but all we exchanged with the pained man, still struggling with his losses.

Pity seemed his default expression as he gaped at me with eyes filled with sadness before we departed his panoramic penthouse workspace, utilising his private elevator to access the roof where an elegant chopper awaited.

Sleek cobalt panels wrapped the upper casing of the aircraft whilst its base and landing skids were coated in silver paint. The overall design was polished, and simplistic, with just a logo of the company printed onto its side.

I rolled up to the copter excitedly, in awe of its magnificence and beauty. Automobiles, regardless of sorts, had always tickled me internally but I soon stopped, gulping awkwardly.